Chapter 432: The Freeloader is Finally Freeloaded |
For an existence of this level to descend, like Great Heaven descending in the Flare Realm, the price consumed would not be low.
And if they didn't have enough of a price to support it, it would also be difficult for them to exert too strong of a might.
After some thought in his heart, Su Chen took out the Faith Essence and directly used it to build an altar. He also fetched a pool of clear water and placed it on top—
"...Towering High Heaven, overlooking the eternal dust..."
A low voice echoed in the Training Room. The Faith Essence gradually melted, and that pool of clear water suddenly undulated slightly. Wisps of pale golden light filaments rose from it, leaping lightly and hovering in mid-air.
They echoed each other and gradually intertwined, actually outlining the slowly rotating contour of an arch made of pure light in the air. The edges of the golden light door flowed with seven-colored light patterns fine as hairs.
Su Chen's voice didn't stop. The golden portal rippled, the surrounding air twisted slightly, and ripples appeared on the surface of the clear water under the altar.
The light filaments were like living creatures, continuously injecting into it. The color of the water turned from clear to golden, and finally the entire pool of water transformed into bundles of flowing liquid light, converging towards the light door in the air.
In an instant, Su Chen stopped his voice. A hazy and blurry figure walked out from the golden portal, as if composed of pure smoke, like mist and gauze.
With just one glance, Su Chen felt a piercing pain in his eyes, faintly having a sense of familiarity. He had just seen these eyes during the Deduction moments ago.
"I am Yuan Shuo, Head of the Bronze Sect in the Dust Star Sea. Greetings to Daoist Lord Lingxiao." Su Chen bowed.
This Daoist Lord Lingxiao didn't speak. His gaze seemed to be sizing him up. After a moment, he responded, indifferent, calm, and unrippled: "Just now, was it you who was deducing me?"
He was noticed... Su Chen's heart tightened, and he said in a deep voice: "It was an Expediency in Emergencies, I had no intention to offend. I ask the Daoist Lord to forgive me."
"Mm..." Daoist Lord Lingxiao Remained Noncommittal to this, slowly pacing. The smoke swirled around his body as his figure shifted. "Dust Star Sea, I've never heard of such a place. But since there are Radiant Moons existing, and you also know of my existence, it should be a powerful Outer Realm."
"I won't hide it from the Daoist Lord," Su Chen explained. "This Dust Star Sea is the place where the eight Radiant Moons who set off the Mist-Fall Calamity in the Abyssal Domain gathered."
"Oh." Daoist Lord Lingxiao seemed somewhat surprised. "So it's them..."
"Daoist Lord, a great change is about to happen in the Abyssal Domain." Su Chen didn't continue waiting for Daoist Lord Lingxiao to ask, but instead directly threw out a bomb.
"Great change?" This Daoist Lord seemed to have some interest, but his voice was still peaceful. "Interesting, tell me about it. What great change?"
"The class of the Sovereign of the Purple Zenith has fallen into the hands of Great Heaven." Su Chen got straight to the point.
Daoist Lord Lingxiao's footsteps stagnated, and a Sharp Gleam flashed in his eyes. "Sovereign of the Purple Zenith... Taixuan Ye, was actually found by Great Heaven?"
"Tell me this matter in detail."
This Daoist Lord became much more serious. Su Chen already had a draft in his mind and slowly recounted: "It's a long story... By a Strange Twist of Fate, we found the Solar Flame. Initially, we didn't know much about the past, just trying to explore..."
He directly started from how the several Ancient Kings were tricked into the Flare Realm, mentioning Taixuan Hong, Taixuan Tianyi, the Immeasurable Buddha, and also Great Heaven.
He also didn't mention anything about discussing conditions or making deals with the other party beforehand. The strength, status, and needs of the two were completely unequal.
He also didn't know the specific temperament of this Daoist Lord Lingxiao, so it was better to keep a low profile.
"...Until the very end, that Taixuan Hong obtained the position of The Chosen and was sent away. We fled in panic, but Great Heaven already intended to make a move against us to block the spread of the news. One faction has already suffered at his hands..."
After he finished speaking, Daoist Lord Lingxiao's eyes sparkled with extraordinary splendor. "To think the Taixuan Family still had such a swan song. They truly lived up to once standing alongside us. Blood-sacrificing ancestors to help compatriots, they truly value relationships and loyalty..."
His words seemed to carry some emotion. "Such an exciting event actually happened in secret. What a pity I couldn't see it with my own eyes."
After finishing his emotional sigh, this Daoist Lord then spoke unhurriedly, "You expended a price to sacrifice to me, is it to seek protection?"
After listening to Yuan Shuo explain the whole sequence of events, he had figured out the other party's purpose.
"I ask the Daoist Lord to lend a helping hand," Su Chen said sincerely. "Great Heaven is evil and eerie. In order to keep this secret, I'm afraid they won't hesitate to kill."
"The Sovereign of the Purple Zenith is indeed not a small matter. Since you specifically informed me, I should also accept this favor of yours. I can keep your life safe." He said.
"Daoist Lord, what I do is not for my own life." Su Chen couldn't help but explain. "But for the numerous disciples and members of my Order."
"The entire Order?" Daoist Lord Lingxiao paused slightly, his tone changing. "I understand, but even for me, it is absolutely not an easy task to protect your members and disciples."
"Whether it is Great Heaven or the Buddha Land, they stand alongside High Heaven. Without a reason, I cannot deter them."
"This..." Su Chen's heart sank. What did he mean? Was this Daoist Lord Lingxiao unwilling?
"Your meaning is?" Su Chen spoke probingly, wanting to confirm the other party's thoughts.
"I can allow you to use my name to deter them, but whether they are willing to believe it is still unknown." Daoist Lord Lingxiao slowly said.
"Or..." Daoist Lord Lingxiao glanced at him and said: "Enter my High Heaven. When the time comes, I will have the reason to protect, intervene, and utilize some Methods."
Join High Heaven? Su Chen was quite surprised and couldn't help asking: "Me?"
"No..." Daoist Lord Lingxiao said methodically: "Your entire Bronze Sect."
The entire Bronze Sect joining High Heaven?
Even Su Chen couldn't help but pause, and then reacted. Wasn't this annexation?
The structure of the Abyssal Domain had long been settled for heaven knows how many years. If one wanted to develop and grow, their gaze could only fall into the Nether Mist. This Dust Star Sea was simply a super big cake.
If the Bronze Sect was used as a fulcrum, they could slowly plot for it.
Su Chen's thoughts spun rapidly. He truly didn't expect this Daoist Lord Lingxiao to open his mouth and want to swallow the entire Bronze Sect.
In his plans, he only needed this person to show his face and reveal his attitude.
When the time comes, both Great Heaven and the Buddha Land would know that the matter of the Sovereign of the Purple Zenith couldn't be covered up. Naturally, there would be no need to make a move, let alone offend this Daoist Lord.
But this person was a Vast Sun after all. His actions couldn't completely follow Su Chen's plans; he had his own considerations.
But if my cheap Master comes back and finds the Order has already turned into someone else's shape, won't he tear me apart? Su Chen felt a bit of a headache.
He sought out this Daoist Lord Lingxiao to prevent the Order from having problems. But if the final result was the same, then why go to so much trouble?
"Daoist Lord... May I ask, what is the specific method of this joining?" Su Chen restrained his thoughts and asked. "Does everyone in the Order have to migrate to High Heaven?"
"No..." Daoist Lord Lingxiao laughed. "Listening to your words, the scale of this Bronze Sect isn't small. If everyone migrates, it will inevitably cause some trouble in the short term."
"You might not understand the structure of my High Heaven very well. High Heaven currently has Eight Heavens. Things like the Eternal Dragon Heaven and the Star Essence Heaven are all Outer Heavens, having joined High Heaven later."
Daoist Lord Lingxiao explained to him: "If the Bronze Sect joins, it can become the Ninth Heaven—the Bronze Heaven. You can share the Order's Resources and channels, and over ninety percent of internal matters can be handled by yourselves."
"But all Morning Star Spirits, The Chosen, and Radiant Moon Spirits must be brought to High Heaven. Aside from that, as for the other members and disciples, you can bring as many as you want."
Su Chen raised an eyebrow, subconsciously thinking that this was clearly to annex the Radiant Moon Spirits and Morning Star Spirits.
But feeling it carefully, it seemed somewhat different.
It seemed equivalent to a branch. In the short term, it might still belong to them, but as time passed, after the Ancient King fell, it would be hard to say.
Thinking about it, he asked further, "If after I fall..."
This Daoist Lord Lingxiao didn't hide anything and said bluntly: "After you fall, your successor will first be searched for within the Bronze Heaven. If one cannot be found within the Bronze Heaven, then it will spread to the other Eight Heavens..."
So it's like this... Su Chen understood. This was a milder, more subtle method of annexation.
"Then how will this place be handled?" Su Chen pondered and asked again.
Daoist Lord Lingxiao's tone was gentle: "It will be equivalent to an external station of my High Heaven, still managed by the Bronze Heaven. High Heaven will not intervene, and can also provide for the consumption of the Bronze Heaven."
So it's this kind of format. Su Chen understood and continued: "Will things like Starfire be taken away?"
"Naturally not. I have already said, the external station is managed by the Bronze Heaven itself." Daoist Lord Lingxiao shook his head.
Su Chen looked thoughtful. Carefully calculating, this matter might not necessarily be a bad thing for him.
The Bronze Sect directly becoming the Bronze Heaven. When the time comes, the Bronze Ancient King and the others would all go there. There would be people bearing the brunt above, and they could directly come into contact with High Heaven, a top-tier major faction in the Abyssal Domain.
The various Resources he currently lacked would definitely be available in abundance. Moreover, with this external station providing for them, it couldn't be better.
But... he wasn't the real Bronze Ancient King, and he didn't know what his Master would think in his heart.
Although it was currently a moment of life and death, joining High Heaven and turning into the Bronze Heaven might not necessarily not be another slow way of dying out.
Just in case his cheap Master wasn't willing to accept this choice, if he agreed now, wouldn't he bafflingly offend a Vast Sun when the time came?
"Daoist Lord, this matter is of great importance and involves the inheritance of the Order. Could you allow me to think about it carefully..." he said in a low voice.
No emotions could be seen from Daoist Lord Lingxiao. His voice was still peaceful, "As it should be."
Immediately after, he saw this Daoist Lord casually flick his hand. Amidst the swirling mist, it transformed into a White Jade Command Token that fell into Su Chen's hand.
"If you have thought it through, when facing a crisis, directly activate this token and show it to the people of Great Heaven or the Buddha Land."
As the White Jade Command Token fell, this Daoist Lord Lingxiao also turned and walked into the golden portal. The light gradually dimmed until it collapsed, and the Faith Essence fell all over the ground with a clatter.
Su Chen lowered his head and looked at it. He picked up the scattered Faith Essence. It had consumed about seventy or eighty portions, leaving twenty-five or six pieces.
"This guy seems to have freeloaded off me." Su Chen sighed. Always freeloading off others all day, he was finally freeloaded off by someone else for once.
He had told the other party the news about the Sovereign of the Purple Zenith, but the protection could only be obtained after joining High Heaven. If he didn't join, it was equivalent to saying it for nothing.
"A pure seller's market, nothing to be done."
Su Chen pinched the White Jade Command Token, only hoping his cheap Master could return as soon as possible to make a decision on this matter.
"In case it's too late..." Su Chen's eyes flickered, feeling he still couldn't just sit and wait for death here. "I'll go find Lao Qing and ask if there's any method to contact the Ancient King as soon as possible."
.........
"...Star, Star... Starfire disappeared?" Han Xingliu looked blankly at the news on the Virtual Screen, continuously pulling down to refresh. But in the end, this wasn't fake news, but from several trusted aides inside the Royal Court.
"Han Xiao is blatantly massacring dissidents and has completely taken control of the entire Royal Capital. The Hell-Suppressing King and the God-Defying King have both been imprisoned..."
Han Xingliu's expression was in a trance, finding it hard to believe. They had just jumped out of the Star Gate, only to suffer a head-on blow.
The importance of the Fire Pillar goes without saying. Without this thing, a large number of Nether Mist clusters would quickly appear within the Royal Court's territory, cutting off communications and navigational routes. The cost of ruling would begin to rise.
Various ambitious people would rise up, riots would occur, and then it would fall apart.
Before entering the Star Gate, he was still the son of the Royal Court's Emperor. After coming out, he had become A stray dog?
"Damn it!" A roar came from beside him. King Peng was Gnashing Teeth, his eyes crimson, finding it hard to control himself.
The expressions of the surrounding guards and staff were similar to Han Xingliu's. Some people even couldn't withstand this blow and fainted on the ground.
"How could the Starfire disappear? Fake news, fake news!" Someone even let out idiotic giggles, driven mad by the stimulation.
"King Peng!" Han Xingliu's throat rolled. Acting purely on instinct, he subconsciously reached out to pull King Peng.
In the next moment, his vision blurred. His entire body was struck sideways, heavily crashing into the wall of the command room, sinking right into it.
"Xingliu!" Only after King Peng subconsciously threw off his arm did he react. He hurriedly pulled Han Xingliu down.
But also because of this, the two of them broke out of their previous state. Han Xingliu coughed up a few mouthfuls of fresh blood and gave a Bitter Smile: "King Peng... The Royal Court... The Royal Court is gone."
King Peng's face changed, but he gritted his teeth and said, "No, not yet. The Radiant Moon Spirit is in our hands, the Galaxy Throne is in our hands, and there is also you, and The Emperor. It's just the Starfire disappearing!"
"Then are we going to fight our way back now?" Han Xingliu couldn't help asking.
"No." King Peng shook his head. "We don't know who made the move, but their Methods must be Unimaginable. Going back now is also Seeking One's Own End."
King Peng continued: "We will continue proceeding to the Bronze Sect. At the very least, we must first purify the Mist Cinders, otherwise we will be restricted everywhere."
"Alright." Han Xingliu drank a mouthful of Potions, feeling much better.
"Stop standing there blankly. Crying is useless, and crying won't bring the Starfire back. Everyone listen to my command!" King Peng stood up and shouted sternly in a deep voice. As pairs of blank and lost gazes looked over, it was as if they had found a backbone.
Han Xingliu smiled bitterly and looked out the window. This was a transit hub, with spaceships coming and going constantly. The news of the Royal Court's Starfire disappearing was temporarily known by few people, but it couldn't be blocked for too long.
When the time comes, the Dust Star Sea will probably fall into great chaos immediately.
"Abyssal Domain... Abyssal Domain..." Han Xingliu muttered, his eyes gradually changing from panicked and uneasy to gloomy and resentful.